One in 5 international student deaths in Korea suicides, spurring mental health calls
About 1 in 5 international students who died in Korea over the past six years took their own lives, fueling calls for stronger mental health support as their numbers in the country continue to grow. According to data the Ministry of Education submitted to Rep. Kim Moon-soo on Monday after surveying some 350 universities nationwide, 84 international students at Korean universities died between…
A recent report reveals that one in five international student deaths in Korea over the past six years have been attributed to suicide, prompting urgent calls for enhanced mental health support. According to data provided by the Ministry of Education to Rep. Kim Moon-soo, 84 international students have died at Korean universities between 2021 and the current year.
Accidents accounted for the majority of these deaths, with 34 cases, followed by illness at 23, suicide at 15, undetermined causes at seven, and other causes at five. The number of international student deaths has been steadily increasing, from 12 in 2021 to 21 in 2025, with 15 recorded so far this year. Suicide rates have fluctuated, dropping from four in 2021 to zero in 2023, before rising to five in 2024, three in 2025, and two so far this year.
The challenges faced by international students in Korea, such as language barriers, cultural adjustment, and academic pressure, have been identified as contributing factors to these tragic incidents.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
